IMac no longer sees network or gets very weak connection

Here's the deal:
I have an iMac that was purchased in 2010. I have used it in an office connecting through a network router using the iMac's airport capabilities. The connection had been good for over a year. Airport would show four full bars every day, day in and day out.  Connection speed was high, and everything was rosy.
About two weeks ago, I noticed my download speed was decreasing. The airport status would show only three or two bars.  Sometimes it would disconnect and say that the network was not available. Then, I could reconnect, but I would only have two bars. Even then, it wouldn't stay connected long. The situation then deteriorated rapidly. Now, I can only see the network half of the time, and when I do, it shows as only one bar.
First, let me say nothing changed. Nothing on the computer changed, nothing on the router changed. It just came out of no where.
Here's what I did in troubleshooting:
Reset the router and made it an unsecure network to make sure it was not a security problem (which I didn't really think it was to begin with because the problem was not seeing the router, not an inability to get on the network).
I sat the iMac right next to the router. Then, it connected fine at full strength. But if I move it from the router too far (but still within the operating range it had for over a year), it drops dramatically.
Reinstalled the operating system on the Mac.  None of these things worked.
Here is the real kicker. There are three other Macs that operate in this office, and all show full strength and connection to the network. I can set my MacBook right in front of the iMac and connect full strength.
We also put a router in the same room with the iMac.  Even when it is sitting just 6 feet or so from the iMac, it only shows as 2 bars of strength. 
So what is the deal? I cannot set this iMac right next to the router. It used to work just fine where it sits, now it can hardly see anything via airport while all other computers can just fine.

HI,
Go to /Library/Preferences. Move all the files in the System Configuration folder to the Trash, restart the iMac.
That doesn't alter your settings, just resets Airport.
Carolyn

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